we have to get past this fiscal cliff and move on. connell: we probably would be talking a lot more about china and the transition of power and how president obama is supposed to do without. when you say there are economy is not doing that great, does that mean it is in jeopardy of a tough all, or it will hang in there? >> i think it will hang in there. china, i think, will grow. reasonably, i have seen some analysts come out and be pretty bullish. their economy, the outlook is willing not that bright. although, they probably will not fall hard. china is sort of setting their status quo. i think the u.s., again, back to the u.s., they have to get their act together. connell: a few days after the end of the year. that is just silly, if you think about it. if we all know the answers, why do we have to wait until the new year. thank you very much. good to see you. dagen: as the nation waits on washington, what is really going on behind the scenes? brett fair on the timeline for a deal in d.c. the mississippi river will always have its ow